Published: 2 February 2012
Responding to Ofcom’s new research on UK broadband speeds, Annie McGovern, Digital Expert at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘It’s good news that the Ofcom research shows customers are getting faster broadband speeds but many people across Scotland will take some convincing. There is still a digital divide in Scotland between the speeds people can get [...]
Published: 14 February 2011
Consumer Focus Labs, the online arm of watchdog Consumer Focus, has extended its StayPrivate.org website to allow businesses to sign up to reduce junk faxes and cold calls. Almost 30,000 consumers have signed up to StayPrivate.org since last summer. The site provides a free and easy way of opting out of receiving junk mail and [...]
Published: 10 February 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland has welcomed the decision to allocate a further £1 million for the operation of the Post Office Challenge Fund in 2011/12. Speaking about the continuation of the fund, Douglas White, Senior Policy Advocate and post specialist for Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “We welcome the provision in the Scottish budget to continue the [...]
Published: 3 February 2011
Responding to EDF Energy’s price rises of 7.5% for electricity and 6.5% for gas, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director of Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘EDF Energy’s customers will be hugely disappointed that the supplier has chosen to up its prices as soon as possible after its price freeze ends. Consumers will be further annoyed that this [...]
Published: 3 February 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland is asking consumers who are not connected to the gas grid to come forward with evidence of any problems they have experienced with their energy supply this winter. The call for feedback from consumers of heating gas, oil or other off-grid energy supplies follows the rocketing price of heating oil and difficulties [...]
Published: 26 January 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland is today urging Scottish customers who have yet to take advantage of refunds from npower for gas bill overpayments in 2007 to claim their share of the £625,000 still available. On 1 October 2010 npower and Consumer Focus announced that the firm would be offering £70 million of refunds to customers. Over [...]
Published: 25 January 2011
Responding to the announcement that the OfT is to launch a market study into the supply of energy to homes that are off-grid, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director and energy expert at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘This investigation into the market for supplying energy to households not on the gas network is welcome but long overdue. [...]
Published: 25 January 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement that regulations governing the approval of a national Tenancy Deposit Scheme are expected to become law in March. Douglas White, Senior Policy Advocate for Consumer Focus Scotland, said: “We welcome the introduction of this scheme and the new protection it will give tenants. Getting a deposit [...]
Published: 18 January 2011
Independent report calls for radical reform of Scotland’s civil justice system A review undertaken by a committee of Scotland’s leading civil justice organisations is calling for a radical rethink on how the civil justice system can be reformed to make it more fit for purpose and user-friendly. The Civil Justice Advisory Group is recommending a [...]
Published: 5 January 2011
Consumer Focus Scotland has welcomed the introduction of rules clarifying the use of Lay Support or ‘McKenzie Friends’ into Scotland’s sheriff courts from 1 January.[1] The court rules governing the use of McKenzie Friends came about following a long campaign by various organisations and individuals committed to the reform of civil justice in Scotland, including Consumer Focus [...]
Published: 17 December 2010
Following continued high heating oil prices, which have outstripped crude oil prices, Consumer Focus Scotland is calling for the OFT to determine why the price of heating oil varies so much across the country. Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director and energy policy lead at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘Rocketing heating oil prices are causing major worry for [...]
Published: 16 December 2010
Responding to the rapidly rising cost of heating oil, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director and energy policy lead at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘The news that thousands of homes in Scotland could be left without heating oil if the big freeze continues is a real concern for many consumers. More than 200,000 households, mainly in rural [...]
Published: 10 December 2010
In response to price increases of 5.1% on gas and electricity announced today by npower, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director at Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘More bad news for consumers. npower customers will have been bracing themselves for this bad news after the increases from other firms, but that won’t make them any less worried about [...]
Published: 1 December 2010
Scots are being urged to check their energy deals as the freezing winter weather continues to see if they could be one of up to a million households that could be at least £100 better off. Nearly half of all Scots (48 per cent) [1] have never switched their energy supplier or even checked to [...]
Published: 26 November 2010
Responding to Ofgem’s announcement today that it is going to investigate the retail energy market, Trisha McAuley, Deputy Director of Consumer Focus Scotland, said: ‘This review is timely and necessary, coming hard on the heels of yesterday’s worrying news that fuel poverty levels in Scotland have reached an all time high. Consumers have little trust [...]
Published: 25 November 2010
Consumer Focus Scotland is calling on both the Scottish and UK governments to take radical action now to deal with the huge increase in fuel poverty following official figures, released today, which show that over three-quarters of a million households in Scotland are unable to keep their homes warm. The consumer watchdog says the shocking [...]
Published: 7 February 2012
Audrey Gallacher, Director of Energy at Consumer Focus, said: ‘We welcome the move by E.ON to change its Direct Debit policy. It is a victory for common sense and hopefully the first of many steps the company will take in its Reset Review programme to improve the experience of its customers. ‘With this in mind [...]
Published: 2 February 2012
Responding to Ofcom’s new research on UK broadband speeds, Adam Scorer, Director of Policy and External Affairs at Consumer Focus, said: ‘It’s good news that customers are getting faster broadband speeds. But there is still often a very clear gap between the maximum speeds advertised by suppliers and what people actually receive. People don’t expect [...]
Published: 1 February 2012
Following DECC confirmation of Government assurances that it will be voluntary rather than compulsory for households to have a smart energy meter fitted, Zoe McLeod, energy expert at Consumer Focus, said: ‘It is welcome that the Government has clarified that customers have a choice over whether they have a smart meter or not. Smart meters have [...]
Published: 27 January 2012
This month: - Energy news - Post news - What consumers think of online public services - Downsides to digital - What’s new from Consumer Focus – our latest research - Behaviour change and CSR conference
Published: 27 January 2012
Responding to the announcement of the Financial Services Bill, Sarah Brooks, Director of Financial Services at Consumer Focus said: ‘This is a once in a generation opportunity to reform our financial regulation and it is vital we get it right. Consumers have been losing out for too long. It is important that the Bill ensures [...]
Published: 6 February 2012
In a report Staying Local: the Future of the Post Office Network, the consumer watchdog found that while there are clear benefits for customers in PO Locals, consumers also have concerns.
Published: 2 February 2012
Consumer Focus Wales is calling on consumers to back their campaign to make changes to food law in Wales.
Published: 31 January 2012
Consumer Focus Wales has asked AMs to support action to protect people who live in park homes from financial abuse by rogue site owners.
Published: 18 January 2012
“More than two in every five Welsh consumers have never switched their energy supplier. Many of those who have switched have done so just once, switching from separate gas and electricity suppliers to a dual fuel deal. That means as many as eight out of ten households in Wales could be paying more than they need to heat their homes." - Lindsey Kearton, Consumer Focus Wales.
Published: 9 January 2012
We believe that these goals, which have been drawn from our major consultation exercise with consumers in all corners of Wales – will provide a fitting legacy for all the hard work undertaken by Consumer Focus Wales.
Published: 5 February 2012
A new report published today by Consumer Focus Post – called ‘Consumer Friendly Post Offices?’1 – examines how well the Post Office network is meeting the needs of Northern Ireland consumers. The new findings show that post offices are well-used and valued, with four in 10 consumers visiting the post office once a week, increasing [...]
Published: 24 January 2012
Responding to the news that Royal Mail and Post Office Limited (POL) have agreed a commercial arrangement that will provide a significant amount of security for the network over the next ten years, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post said: ‘We welcome this announcement by Edward Davey – a ten year [...]
Published: 5 December 2011
Consumer Focus Post is calling for people to think about posting cards and presents and ordering online Christmas shopping earlier this year. Many people may be risking Christmas disappointment by posting their Christmas mail and doing their online Christmas shopping at the last minute. Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post said: [...]
Published: 24 October 2011
Responding to Simon Hamilton MLA’s call today for drivers in Northern Ireland to be allowed to renew their car tax online, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy at Consumer Focus Post, ‘Consumers in Northern Ireland need a range of options for renewing their car tax, or indeed accessing any government service. Access both online and [...]
Published: 20 October 2011
Responding to Ofcom proposals on regulation of the postal service, Kellin McCloskey, Head of Postal Policy, Consumer Focus Post, said: ‘The proposals made by Ofcom today suggest major change for the future of Northern Ireland’s postal service. We must ensure the right balance between putting Royal Mail on a stable footing and ensuring value and [...]
